K3: Hyundai unveils world’s first hydrogen-powered military tank

Oct 31, 2024

South Korea may become the first nation to develop and deploy fully hydrogen fuel cell-powered main battle tanks.

Christopher McFadden

Artist's impression of the new Hyundai Rotem MBT.

Hyundai Rotem

South Korea’s Hyundai subsidiary Rotem has just unveiled its vision for the future of main battle tanks for the Republic of Korea (ROK), hydrogen-powered powertrains.

The next version of ROK’s K-series battle tanks, the K3, will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and feature other advanced tech to become one of the world’s most sophisticated tanks.

The new hydrogen-powered K3 has been developed in collaboration with Korea’s Agency for Defense Development and other national technology research institutions. Once operational, the tank is hoped to enter production as soon as 2040, making it the world’s first.

The hydrogen fuel cells will replace the K-series diesel engines. This will be done in steps, with the first prototypes featuring hybrid hydrogen and diesel engines. It is just the latest in a line of announcements from South Korea in its broader aim to transition its war machines away from combustion engines.

“Next-generation main battle tank surpasses all capabilities of today’s MBTs, providing more efficient mission employment with the latest technologies for future warfare. As battlefield conditions change, more changes are required to MBT’s firepower, command and control, and survivability to be more optimized and to create maximum combat synergy,” Hyundai Rotem explains on its website.

“Hyundai Rotem will proactively prepare for future warfare by developing next-generation main battle tanks capable of supplementing combatant’s capabilities and function replacements. Peacekeeping is our prioritized goal,” the company added.

The new K3 will feature improved stealth capabilities, autonomous driving and slave drones, and a new 130-mm smoothbore main gun. “The next-generation tank will have stronger preemptive strike capabilities using an artificial intelligence-based fire control system,” an official at Hyundai Rotem said.

The move is more than a move to make military assets, like tanks, more sustainable. It also offers robust improvements that should make the new tank more versatile and deadly on the battlefield. The first is having a much-reduced heat signature due to the lack of hot exhaust.

Fuel cell technology will also dramatically reduce the noise the tank generates when on the move. It will also provide the tank with greater acceleration and mobility, not to mention vastly superior fuel economy.

Due to its fewer moving parts, the new tank should also benefit from much-improved maintenance. It will also be able to traverse steep and rugged terrains better.

According to Army Recognition, the new K3 will be operated by a skeleton crew of three: one driver, a commander, and a gunner. The crew will be housed in a heavily armored capsule near the hull’s front.

This design aims to improve crew protection by isolating them from potential threats from autoloaders and ammunition storage. At the core of its firepower is an unmanned turret equipped with a remotely controlled 130mm smoothbore cannon.

This should enable it to engage targets up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) away. It will also feature advanced armor, with modular steel, ceramic, and composites creative armor.

The tank will also feature multi-purpose anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) with a range of 5 miles (8 kilometers), including advanced modes for both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight engagements. A remote-controlled weapons station on the turret, which can accommodate weapons ranging from 12.7mm to 30mm, further enhances these capabilities.

The tank will have advanced defensive technologies, including a Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system to counter heat-seeking missiles, an Active Protection System (APS), and a drone jamming device. Its low-profile design and reduced radar and infrared signatures make it exceptionally difficult to detect on the battlefield, similar to the Polish PL-01 tank.

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Christopher McFadden Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.

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